University Health Knowledge on Oral Cavity Cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Head and neck cancer comprises a heterogeneous group of malignant neoplasms originating in the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, salivary and thyroid glands. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of university students in the field of oral cancer. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive, qualitative-quantitative study with a non-probabilistic convenience sample. The students received an online questionnaire with 24 applied questions that addressed the risk factors, symptomatology, clinical aspects, self-examination, prevention and treatment. Results: 110 university students from the health area (58 = first year and 52 = last year) participated in the study, distributed in physical therapy, dentistry, psychology, physical education, nursing, medicine and nutrition. Regarding the average number of correct answers to the questionnaires, the first-year students had an average of 77.65% (± 21.09) of correct answers, and the last year’s college students 82.37% (± 19.88). The questions that obtained the lowest rates of correct answers were the ones related to the incidence of oral cancer in Brazil, where 43 (39%) were correct, and 52 (47.3%) of the academics are unaware of the age at which most cases are diagnosed. Conclusion: Although cancer of the oral cavity is increasing, forms of prevention and early diagnosis reserve greater chances of cure. From this study, we can conclude that the academics of health courses, especially in the last year, seem to be able to inform the population about cancer of the oral cavity.